The Age of Fable eBook

THE NIBELUNGEN HOARD

This was a mythical mass of gold and precious stones
which Siegfried obtained from the Nibelungs, the people
of the north whom he had conquered and whose country
he had made tributary to his own kingdom of the Netherlands.
Upon his marriage, Siegfried gave the treasure to
Kriemhild as her wedding portion. After the murder
of Siegfried, Hagan seized it and buried it secretly
beneath the Rhine at Lochham, intending to recover
it at a future period. The hoard was lost forever
when Hagan was killed by Kriemhild. Its wonders
are thus set forth in the poem:

“’Twas as much
as twelve huge wagons in four whole nights and days
Could carry from the mountain
down to the salt sea bay;
Though to and fro each wagon
thrice journeyed every day.

“It was made up of nothing
but precious stones and gold;
Were all the world bought
from it, and down the value told,
Not a mark the less would
there be left than erst there was, I ween.”

—­Nibelungen Lied,
XIX.

Whoever possessed the Nibelungen hoard were termed
Nibelungers. Thus at one time certain people
of Norway were so called. When Siegfried held
the treasure he received the title “King of the
Nibelungers.”

WAGNER’S NIBELUNGEN RING

Though Richard Wagner’s music-drama of the Nibelungen
Ring bears some resemblance to the ancient German
epic, it is a wholly independent composition and was
derived from various old songs and sagas, which the
dramatist wove into one great harmonious story.
The principal source was the Volsunga Saga, while lesser
parts were taken from the Elder Edda and the Younger
Edda, and others from the Nibelungen Lied, the Ecklenlied,
and other Teutonic folklore.

In the drama there are at first only four distinct
races,—­the gods, the giants, the dwarfs,
and the nymphs. Later, by a special creation,
there come the valkyrie and the heroes. The gods
are the noblest and highest race, and dwell first
in the mountain meadows, later in the palace of Valhalla
on the heights. The giants are a great and strong
race, but lack wisdom; they hate what is noble, and
are enemies of the gods; they dwell in caves near the
earth’s surface. The dwarfs, or nibelungs,
are black uncouth pigmies, hating the good, hating
the gods; they are crafty and cunning, and dwell in
the bowels of the earth. The nymphs are pure,
innocent creatures of the water. The valkyrie
are daughters of the gods, but mingled with a mortal
strain; they gather dead heroes from the battle-fields
and carry them to Valhalla. The heroes are children
of the gods, but also mingled with a mortal strain;
they are destined to become at last the highest race
of all, and to succeed the gods in the government
of the world.

The principal gods are Wotan, Loki, Donner, and Froh.
The chief giants are Fafner and Fasolt, brothers.
The chief dwarfs are Alberich and Mime, brothers,
and later Hagan, son of Alberich. The chief nymphs
are the Rhine-daughters, Flosshilda, Woglinda, and
Wellgunda. There are nine Valkyrie, of whom Brunhild
is the leading one.